Response to market forces

Has anybody else come up against a standard cruise line statement "Response to market forces". I am referring to the rather annoying habit of cruise lines announcing special deals for new bookings to entice customers. Over Christmas NCL announce a "sail" where instead of one add on deal, new bookings could select two add-ons which included an Ultimate Beverage Package AND four evening meals in a speciality restaurant. Contacting NCL, after we had booked nearly 6 months ago, they throw out the standard line of excuse.

It is annoying therefore to discover that booking early is not a good idea. The price is still the same (in US $ anyway) and there are plenty of cabins available.

Incidentally, any idea of cancelling and re-booking is not an option on UK bookings as we would lose the deposit (unlike USA bookings)

12 Answers

Our habit of booking varies. Earlier in our cruising career we would not book early or onboard because our work cycles were unpredictable. Now, we book onboard if the perks are good enough. We accept there is always a risk that another deal might come along that is (or sounds) better than what we booked but as long as we booked the trip we wanted and feel we got a good deal at the time, we don't drive ourselves crazy looking at subsequent offers.

It is used not only by the cruise industry, and other travel sites. It is also used in other retail and wholesale events. We have seen this in sales for vehicles....( we can get extended warranty for 10 years if we trade in this week....etc...)

If you have done your research and believe you have made the best decision for your cruise dollar, you have succeeded. Of course, you should ask about the other perks.

All of the cruise lines do this to fill the ships up. If your happy with the price and package when you booked it, then be happy with your vacation. If you keep checking and it makes you unhappy when others get a better deal then why check ? Be happy with what you paid and enjoy your trip. There will always be somebody that got a better deal, don't let that put a damper on your vacation.

If you keep checking and it makes you unhappy when others get a better deal then why check ? .

It is not really a question of checking. The NCL banner pops up on my pc advising me to "Book now for a good deal". In my opinion, the cruise lines who do this to entice new bookings are ignoring their loyal customers who have already booked. In the past, I have always persuaded NCL to do " a deal". We will have to see what happens this time after my travel agent gets herself involved.

Unfortunately my request to NCL has only met with the following response

Thank you for your e-mail.

As a company we operate a “fluid pricing” strategy which is dependent on availability and demand. Therefore the cost and promotions we offer on a particular holiday can and do change on a regular basis in response to market forces. Over the Christmas period, we offered a special promotion. This promotion was only available for new bookings. Regrettably, we cannot retroactively add promotions to already existing bookings.

I have sent an E-mail to Frank Del Rio but I am not too hopeful on this occasion.

Unfortunately my request to NCL has only met with the following response

Thank you for your e-mail.

As a company we operate a “fluid pricing” strategy which is dependent on availability and demand. Therefore the cost and promotions we offer on a particular holiday can and do change on a regular basis in response to market forces. Over the Christmas period, we offered a special promotion. This promotion was only available for new bookings. Regrettably, we cannot retroactively add promotions to already existing bookings.

I have sent an E-mail to Frank Del Rio but I am not too hopeful on this occasion.

Thanks John for that. I guessed it could be the Miami address but just wondered if you had anything different. I will draft up a suitable letter to him and see what happens. E-mails sent to him did not even get any acknowledgement.

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